Recent bus crash in Tennessee that has claimed the lives of six schoolchildren has school districts across the country asking questions and looking for new ways to improve school bus safety. There are some things school systems can do that will have a big impact on bus safety, these are a few steps your district can take to improve safety all around.

Install GPS Fleet Tracking

GPS fleet tracking not only allows you to record where the drivers are going. It can be used to monitor driver behavior, in real time, and even send text message or email notifications when drivers are doing the following:

Speeding

Hard Braking

Swerving (or driving erratically)

Driving Aggressively

Deviating from the Prescribed Routes

In fact, many school districts throughout the country are already using GPS fleet tracking to monitor driving behaviors. Some, in North Carolina, have taken the additional steps of installing governors on buses that prevent them from driving faster than 45 mph, according to WNCN.com.

A Lafayette, LA school official reports that GPS tracking allows him to monitor all the buses in his district without leaving his desk informing him of important details like when stops are made, when buses are driving in reverse, when the doors are open, and, yes, when the drivers are speeding.

Conduct Bus Inspections

This includes visual inspections of the bus interior after every route is run to make sure there are no sleeping children remaining on the bus – an important safety precaution that has made headlines in the past. It also includes routine mechanical inspections and regular maintenance.

Scheduling regular maintenance can help you stay on top of potential mechanical problems to reduce the risk of accidents related to mechanical failures and poor maintenance.

Pursue More Thorough Driver Screening

At the end of the day, the driver is the one who has the greatest degree of control over whether accidents occur. Proper training and vetting of drivers can ensure you’re hiring drivers who have the right education and training to do the job. A proper screening will also explore the driver’s motor vehicle in every state where he or she has had a license to driver.

When you’re responsible for the safety of so many children every day, you want to feel confident that you’ve taken every possible precaution to ensure that safety. Taking these steps can help you send your buses and the children under your care out each day with greater confidence.

If you are in charge of a school bus fleet and are looking to improve your school bus fleet’s safety, give us a call here at LiveView GPS at 1-888-544-0494 to learn how GPS fleet tracking can help.

When you’re quickly running into your home to pick up something you’ve forgotten, or are grabbing a quick coffee, you might think it’s OK to leave your keys in your unlocked car for five minutes.

However, a recent report from the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) has essentially stated otherwise. The number of these so-called “freebie” vehicle thefts was up 22 percent to 57,096 in 2015.

Although it’s convenient to leave your vehicle running and open for a few minutes while you’re doing something else nearby, it could cost you your car. When your vehicle is open, with exposed valuables lying around inside, and your keys in the ignition, this is an open invitation to opportunist thieves, who will see your prized possession as easy pickings.

A “freebie” theft is defined as when a driver leaves their FOB or keys in an unlocked car, unattended. Rather than improving, the NICB says that instances of this particular type of theft have grown 31 percent over the past three years.

It must be remembered that the figures above are based on reported data. As people understandably don’t like to admit they’ve left their vehicle unlocked with the keys inside, the figure of 57,096 may be on the lower side in terms of actual thefts.

It’s also good practice to have kill switches, and fuel cut offs in your car, as well as using smart keys.

Another very good way of securing your car against theft is to install a GPS vehicle tracking device. This is invaluable to you in the event of your car being stolen, as it provides route tracking, making your car easier to find.

Whenever old man winter rears his head, most people head for the comforts of home hoping to ride out the storms in relative warmth. But more than a few dedicated professionals are on call during these perilous times, ready to brave the cold, wind, sleet, ice, and snow to keep the roads safe and homes warm throughout the snowy regions.

Below are three winter weather industries that greatly benefit from GPS tracking.

Snow Plow Companies

These men and women not only head out in the worst wintertime weather to keep the roads safe for drivers brave enough to venture out and to ensure that emergency vehicles can reach their intended destinations. That doesn’t mean that accidents can’t happen along their routes and that there is no risk to these trucks and their drivers.

GPS fleet tracking allows you to keep track of your vehicles, ensure that all roads are being plowed and that your drivers are safe. It can also be used to track weather so you can monitor the safety of drivers on the road and pull them back when it becomes necessary for safety.

HVAC Companies

In the days leading up to winter weather events, and sometimes during these snow storms, so that your customers can remain safe and warm no matter how cold the weather outside becomes.

You’ll want to dispatch efficiently during these busy times so that no home, or furnace, is left behind, and to ensure that you are using your staff to the best possible advantage. GPS fleet tracking can help with all that and more – even verifying arrival times and departure of your drivers should billing concerns arise.

Propane Delivery Drivers

One thing no one wants to do is run out of propane during a winter weather event. Delivery drivers for liquid propane suppliers are often working overtime during the days prior to, and immediately after, any major winter weather events.

GPS fleet tracking helps to ensure delivery of propane to the correct property, plan more efficient routes, and notify you of potential hazardous driving that could be a sign your drivers are at risk or not taking the risks the weather poses seriously enough.

Winter weather can be stunningly beautiful to look at. Driving in it is another matter altogether. GPS fleet tracking allows you to keep tabs on your drivers to ensure their performance, productivity, and safety on these tricky winter roads. Try it today and see how much of an impact it can have on your winter weather business.

About Live View GPS

We specialize in real time GPS tracking systems. GPS tracking, GPS monitoring and management for vehicles, assets, equipment, property and persons. Whether your needs are consumer or commercial based, personal or business related we have a cost effective GPS tracking solution for you. Locate in real-time and on demand vehicles, people and property from any web based computer. View these locations on our systems integrated maps. Our GPS devices are the real deal, they are tested and proven, they work.